No, Calvin!!!


I have been reading a devotional based on the biblical commentaries of John Calvin. Do you know that he wrote a Commentary on every book of the Bible but Revelation? He isn't the only one befuddled by the book. Almost 2,000 years later (after the Apostle John wrote it) we are still screwing it up so maybe his silence was wise.  

Calvin was not only a first-rate thinker, he was also quite tender and pastoral as a rule. His writings clearly extol the grace of God above all else. In that light, Calvin is among the most Christian of all historical figures. He makes Universalists looks graceless by comparison. For Calvin affirms in all of his work and preaching the reality that there is nothing humanity can do to curry God's favor but to depend on Christ. That is it. 

I have been particularly impressed by Calvin's pure dependence on Scripture for his theological presuppositions. He truly was one that generally relied on the Bible to create his worldview. Yet, I read something yesterday in his thoughts on Psalm 119:115 that was dead wrong despite his good intentions. 

The verse is:

"Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God."

What is most off is Calvin's reflection on this verse:

"To follow the way of the Lord without stumbling, we must endeavor to keep the greatest possible distance from worldy and wicked people, not in terms of physical separation but in terms of interacting and conversing with them."

Hmmm....is Calvin advocating mannequin evangelism? Say nothing, do nothing? How contrary is this from Christ who not only conversed with sinners, ate with sinners, loved sinners, BUT DIED FOR SINNERS? Christ did not keep His distance from us and we should all be thankful that He did not. 

Calvin's wrong. That is hard for me to write as a Reformed Christian (i.e. Biblical thinker) to write. But, the Truth must be told. I say it again, Calvin's wrong...we are to be like Christ.     

Comments

VanTil said…
1. I think Calvin failed to write a commentary on Revelation because he died before he could do so.
2. Calvin was wrong about lots of stuff, just like the rest of us dumb sinners.
3. Calvin was wrong about fewer things than the rest of us dumb sinners - hence his justifiable fame.
March 29, 2012 at 6:09 AM
Eric Bierker said…
I think Calvin would be the first one to admit he got this one wrong. It is just so interesting that a man with such insight would miss how Christ came and ministered and how that could be nothing less than a call for His people to do the same. This non-engagement has had some serious complications. Calvin, as a rule, speaks so clearly, I just was astounded that he overlooked the most simple reading of the Gospels. According to some research I did, and I quote, "Calvin said that he did not write on Revelation because he did not understand it. He did not say nobody could understand it, but he did say he could not understand it. So he did not write on it."
March 29, 2012 at 6:15 PM
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